The Norwich Ice Arena Authority may sign a rental contract for a new chiller by week’s end, and is on track to reopen by August — in time for a full hockey and skating season.

On Wednesday, the rink’s governing board unanimously agreed to spend $25,500 to install a temporary chiller until a new one arrives later this year.

“The key is to get the rink back online,” authority chairman Peter Desaulniers said. “Once we get ours, we would still keep the rental here for a couple of weeks as an insurance policy in case something happens.”

The ammonia-brine based unit that’s en route runs on the same technology as the rink’s original chiller, which was installed in 1995 when the facility opened and has failed twice this year.

The rink has been closed since early May, after the latest malfunction. On June 17, the City Council voted 6-1 to take $80,000 from last year’s capital budget and give it to the rink’s governing board so it could replace the chiller.

The cost of a new unit is around $50,000.

Jeff Brining, energy services manager for Norwich Public Utilities, will draft the rental agreement and provide it to Desaulniers for authorization. The authority tasked Brining to finalize a contract on its behalf.

"In the event there is a failure of a unit, you’ll have a new one here in less than 24 hours. In reality, it’s more like six hours. So we’re shifting that burden of risk to United, and I think that’s very important,” he said.

The rink’s website, Facebook page and Twitter account will be updated informing customers that a bypass chiller is on the way, the authority said Wednesday.

Board members also took another step toward bringing new leadership to the rink, meeting behind closed doors to review nine applications for a facility director.

Desaulniers said one applicant proposed to privatize the entire operation — something the authority opposes. No hiring date for the position was set.